RESOLUTION ON LETTER OF A. M. GORKY
January 31, 1920

I am very sorry, dear Vladimir Ilyich, that I am forced to appeal to you with a complaint and request,—here ... you cannot get sense from anyone.

About a year ago by telegram of the Supreme Council of the National Economy ... I was appointed commissar of the "Kopeyika" printing house, which was entirely placed at the disposal of "World Literature." For purposes of technical supervision and accounting, along with me the former commissar from the polygraphic section of the local Supreme Council of the National Economy was also retained.

"World Literature" expended enormous efforts to preserve the productivity of the printing house during a difficult year and to protect it from the collapse in which most large, nationalized printing houses now find themselves.

Wishing to raise the productivity of these printing houses, the local polygraphic section found no other method than to forcibly, through its commissar, remove from "Kopeyika" its working personnel and transfer it to Soviet printing houses.

On January 27 in this way 10 workers from the machine room were taken from me; on the 28th the same number of compositors and bookbinders was demanded. These removals were carried out despite my protest as commissar.

Such behavior by the polygraphic section, completely destroying the work of "Kopeyika," deprives "World Literature" of the possibility of printing its books. Besides "World Literature," in "Kopeyika" with my consent are printed works for the Baltic Fleet, the Murmansk Railway and orders are executed from Smolny. It goes without saying that the printing house accepts no private orders.

Thus, destroying the work of "Kopeyika," the polygraphic section inflicts damage on Soviet power itself.

I request You:

1. Shield "Kopeyika" from further attempts by the polygraphic section.

2. Take measures to return to "Kopeyika" the workers taken from it.

3. Confirm with sufficient authority my rights as commissar, indicating that the printing house is given to the exclusive disposal of "World Literature," and, besides me, no other commissar is needed.

I am confident that only in this way is it possible to ensure the further work of "World Literature" and preserve from destruction the only large printing house in Petrograd functioning properly. I request you to consider my request without delay and give me an answer by telegraph, since the destruction of the printing house has already begun and is proceeding most energetically.

M. Gorky

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